The visitors from Fawley, managed by former Pompey and Southampton defender Jon Gittens, held out for a 1-0 win.
Paxton, who had been a doubt for the Wessex League Premier Division clash after he was stamped on by a Poole player in the 5-2 midweek defeat at The College Ground.

But the teenager, who had a trial with Southampton earlier in the season, opted to go and watch the Saints tackle Pompey in the FA Cup Fifth Round.

Without the talented teenager, the home side struggled to open up high-flying Blackfield and Langley, who have stayed in the top five having been promoted last season.

Humbugs boss Mark Poulton, whose side have picked up just two points out of the last 18, lamented: "They scored from the only chance of the game which was very disappointing.

"We missed striker Nathan Paxton who decided to go to the Portsmouth FA Cup game, but I suppose that is what 17-year-olds do.

But Poulton insists there is no need to panic despite suffering their 14th loss of the league season which left the Humbugs seven points clear of the drop zone.

"There are still 18 games to play so there is no need to panic," added Poulton. "We are a better side than our league position suggests but we are struggling to score goals.

"We played three up front against Blackfield so it was very disappointing that their goalkeeper didn't have a save to make."

Both sides struggled to string together any coherent football on a very difficult playing surface.

And after Hayling failed to put away a corner which bobbled around the visitors' box after 20 minutes, their defence allowed a long ball to reach Fahad Hamadou, who just got ahead of his marker to send his header past Harrop.

Josh Case had a rare chance to level before the break, but sent his effort from distance high over the bar,

Seven minutes after the break, United keeper Tony Harrop came to his side's rescue, getting a hand to a loose ball and scooping it clear under pressure from several Blackfield forwards.

Jack Salter-Vaile then cleared off the line after Hamadou had set up Stevens for what looked like a certain second.

Graham Gillman, making just his fourth start, provided a pass for Case to fire off a shot, but again his first effort cleared the Blackfield goal by some distance.

Hamadou had the chance to put the result beyond doubt with six minutes left, but he hit the bar from the edge of the box when clean through.

United had been pressing in the last quarter of an hour and Sean Thurgood had their best effort on 86 minutes with a sweetly struck volley that went wide of Hawkins' left hand upright.

It was an improved second-half by the home side but not enough to gain a share, let alone all of the points.

And it was a disappointing final appearance for central defender Mick Taylor, who has had problems travelling from Haslemere since joining the Islanders in the summer from Petersfield.

Hayling face Paulsgrove in the Portsmouth Senior Cup semi-final on Tuesday at The College Ground, before travelling across the Solent to face Brading on the Isle of Wight on Saturday.